ORCHID — Publix has pulled out of its plan to build a supermarket along with a retail building on County Road 510, about a year after it first showed interest, town officials said.
Orchid Town Manager Noah Powers said the town received an email Wednesday from WindCrest Development Group, which was working with Publix on the project. The email stated that Publix has “terminated the contract and will not be moving forward with the project,” Powers said.
The town was still waiting on the planner to complete a second round of reviews of the application before Publix scrapped its plans. Powers could not comment on why Publix pulled out of the project.
Orchid residents overwhelmingly opposed plans to build the shopping center in the seaside town. Residents noted that the supermarket could cause potential problems with noise, light, traffic and operating hours.
Publix was in talks with the town about the project about a year ago. In October 2018, Publix submitted a plan development application, Powers said.
The plan would have seen a 31,000 square-foot supermarket built on seven acres. There also would have been a 6,000 square-foot building with five retail stores, Powers said.